IPL burns/scarring

I had IPL 6 weeks ago and although I wasn't aware of blistering, I had hundreds of little nicks and surface abrasions on the skin and was swollen and very red for 4.5 weeks. I peeled quite heavily from day 10-14. I went back to the original derm who did the treatment after this, who said that I had developed seb derm and gave me cream for it. After 4 weeks I visited another derm who told me that I had been burned (first degree) and that all the red marks, pock marks, lines and rectangular marks would disappear in time, although he said they still had not healed and he gave me corticosteriod cream to reduce the inflammation and said that I was scorched and did not have seb derm. It is now 6 weeks and there has been some improvement in that the swelling and a lot of the marks have diminished, but I have been left with hypopigmentation marks, and still have quite a few severe indendations (white indents surrounded by hyperpigmentation marks) and can still see the outline of the crystal in red all over my face. If this was a first degree burn, then wouldn't it have healed by now? I am getting anxious as I fear these burns are turning into scars. Is there anything I can do to minimise this happening. In addition, I have appear to have lost quite a bit of fat in my face....I have also lost half a stone which I hope is the cause and not the IPL. I am extremely anxious and would be very grateful for some advice.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
From your symptoms it looks like first degree burns after IPL rather than seborrheic dermatitis. Hypopigmentation after laser treatment is a common side effect of this technique and is due to damage to melanocytes vaporized along with targeted keratinocytes and fibroblasts in the epidermis and dermis. Usually this is a temporary complication and sometimes it goes away on its own after exposure to the sun. Creams like Elidel cream or Protropic can be used on these hypopigmented  areas but use it under a dermatologist’s guidance.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.